The National Weather Service is simplifying a suite of cold weather forecast products to improve messaging of winter hazards.
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Hoosiers will see new and simplified cold weather alerts starting this fall.
The National Weather Service is simplifying a suite of cold weather forecast products to improve messaging of winter hazards and provide better decision-making services. This effort is part of the Hazard Simplification initiative, which integrates public and partner engagements and social science research to improve and evolve the weather service’s alert system, according to the agency.
Cold weather can be deadly, as people exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia in minutes. So as the public prepares for the frigid wind chills and sub-freezing temperatures that winter can bring, officials announced the changes, which went into effect on Oct. 1.
Nine types of watches, warnings and advisories are being renamed and consolidated down to five:
- Extreme Cold Watch and Wind Chill Watch are being consolidated into a new Extreme Cold Watch alert. It will be issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible within a few days.
- Extreme Cold Warning and Wind Chill Warning are being consolidated into a new Extreme Cold Warning alert. It will be issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are expected or occurring.
- Wind Chill Advisory will be replaced and renamed as a Cold Weather Advisory. It will be issued when seasonably cold air temperatures or wind chill values, but not extremely cold values, are expected or occurring.
- Hard Freeze Watch and Freeze Watch are being consolidated to Freeze Watch. It will be issued when there is a potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours.
- Hard Freeze Warning and Freeze Warning are being consolidated to Freeze Warning. It will be issued when temperatures are forecasted to go below 32 degrees for a long period of time.
Cold Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories will state not only the timing of the particular weather event, but also how cold wind chills will drop. This information was previously provided in the now-defunct wind chill alerts.
A​ freeze occurs when temperatures hit 32 degrees or colder. Most vegetation is destroyed when temperatures reach 28 degrees or colder, which is called a hard freeze, officials say.
Meteorologists say the changes seek to clarify that cold can be dangerous with or without wind, addressing a common misconception that extreme cold is only tied to colder temperatures when there is wind. Dangerously cold weather can accompany or follow wintry precipitation and the cold messaging can be overshadowed by the wintry precipitation, officials said.
The consolidation of the Freeze and Hard Freeze alerts into the Freeze Watch/Warning alert, which officials say will have enhanced language, will also simplify and improve messaging and service delivery.
Over the past several years, the weather service has decreased the number of alerts it has issued through the Hazard Simplification initiative. In 2017, winter weather precipitation alerts were simplified.
